Nico Hulkenberg has revealed how the marshals at Flip 1 for the Method 1 Brazilian Grand Prix have been “partying” after illegally serving to the Haas driver rejoin the race after an off.
The German spun out in troublesome situations at Interlagos and though he failed to achieve the obstacles on the first nook, he grew to become beached on a crest within the run-off space, together with his rear wheels within the air.
This led to the usage of the digital security automotive – one which introduced race-defining pit stops – however as an alternative of Hulkenberg retiring, he was pushed off the ledge and continued.
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However the usage of exterior help contravened F1 laws and noticed Hulkenberg disqualified – the primary driver proven the black flag for the reason that Canadian Grand Prix in 2007.
Recapping his race, Hulkenberg stated: “I believe it was going OK on the inters really; I used to be in a prepare with Pierre [Gasly] and Fernando [Alonso] for a very long time, earlier than we pitted. So I believe we have been going OK – it wasn’t dreadful, but it surely wasn’t superb both.
“Simply after the pit cease, our race one way or the other… clearly it completed fairly shortly and all of it went south from there.”
On the incident that finally noticed him disqualified, Hulkenberg defined: “They [the marshals] got here out, they pushed me off and so they have been actually pleased with themselves.
“They have been partying and pushing me on and saying, ‘come on, go, let’s go, this race is not completed’. In that second, you do not actually assume, you do not care to be sincere as properly.
“You simply proceed and also you cope with the implications later.”
Nico Hulkenberg, Haas VF-24
Picture by: Lubomir Asenov / Motorsport Photos
The race would additional hinge on a crimson flag simply laps after Hulkenberg had triggered the digital security automotive as a deluge of rain and Franco Colapinto’s crash below security automotive situations left race management with no different.
Having made it to the pits below the crimson flags earlier than being advised of his disqualification, Hulkenberg handled the worst of the climate and insisted: “Positively amongst the hardest situations that I’ve raced in.
“Extremely low grip, a really, very slender window, very onerous to make no errors. It was very robust.”